"New York Draft riots - uniforms?" Topic

I am considering gaming the New York Draft riots July 13 to July 16, 1863, but I have problems finding information of the uniforms of the troops involved. Would anyone know what uniforms the following units wore?

• 65th New York state militia
• 74th New York state militia
• 152nd New York Volunteers
• 20th Independent Battery, New York Volunteer Art
• 26th Michigan Volunteers
• 30th Indiana Volunteers

Any help much appreciated!

The form this uniform was to take had been specified by April 22nd. The main garment, the jacket, was described as: "… a jacket of dark army blue cloth cut to flow from the waist and to fall about four inches below the belt. The coat to be buttoned with eight buttons … a low standing collar… buttons to be those of the state militia. Four sizes of jackets will be required." The trousers and overcoat for the uniform were …"

1st google hit using these search words "65th new york state militia uniforms"
as this was the dawn of the photographic age, i dont think you/ll find many photots available.
good luck,
R.

I always assumed they were issued regulation federal uniforms. Period illustrations that I have seen would certainly leave one with that impression.

It sounds like a neat game. Are you using a commercial set of rules? Are you using the "Gangs of New York" figs from Brigade for the rioters?

Thanks for your help,

I was hoping they might be mentioned in some uniform guide. Unfortunately they are not included in the books by Osprey and Haythornwaite I have. The 7th NYSM was involved and they wore grey uniform but I have found nothing on the others. But I go with the recommendation of Dark blue on the 65th.
I plan to pit the federals against the Brigade figures mentioned together with Victorian types from West Wind and Foundry

Could be OK as a game with some scenarios other than direct confrontations. When the rioters actully saw the troops, most quickly became "innocent bystanders" who had seen and done nothing!! There was (as always) a few hardcore,or maybe just stupid ,individuals who actully tried to confront or refused to comply! Some room for urban skirmishing at some level. Remember the rioters were not armed in any way close to what the troops had availiable. Wish you well with your project, I have not heard about anyone else who has done it!

Can't help with the uniform info but you should check out the B'hoy range of figures and buildings from the Virtual Armchair General here…
fauxtoys.com/tvag/200-bhoys.html
Andrew

Thanks for your additional comments. It will be a long term project since I will need to paint some 100 figures and arrange some 20 buildings. Good advice on the B´hoys, I forgot about those.

The 65th New York State Militia was formed in Buffalo in 1863 and went onto the Union Army roster in 1864 as the 187th New York Infantry. Their original issue uniform was a black hat (I think Hardee pattern based on the description) with dark blue frock coats and grey or white trousers

Ravenscroft describes the official New York state militia uniform for general issue, which is what I suspect the 74th and 152nd were issued with, which were trimmed with light blue and included a dark blue forage cap – for the artillery, the trim was red

The boys from Michigan would likely have had standard issue Federal uniform, dark blue sack coat, light blue trousers, black hat or dark blue forage cap

Indiana troops for all regiments raised after the 11th Indiana (i.e. the 30th Indiana) were in standard Federal issue, with the caveat that apparently black felt hats were very popular with the Indiana boys

Sounds like a great game – best of luck!

Do keep us updated. It sounds like a project I might like to try.

Frederick,

that´s awesome information! Uniform problem solved!

I will post updates as I go along (but it will take some time since the Building Something Contest on lead-adventure.de will require all available time during the coming month)

Here's a point to consider: Those fellows who came to New York to help keep order were from the 6th Corps, and were fresh from the battlefield of Gettysburg. they were tough, honed troops who would brook no trouble from rioters or seditionists. Their uniforms and accouterments would have been campaign & battleworn.

FWIW, all of the units you have listed were veteran units that had seen action in the Army of the Potomac, except for the 152nd NY, which was with the Department of Virginia, serving around Suffolk, etc, with 7th Army Corps. It, along with some others were transferred to DC to assist in putting down the riots.

Thus, all of these units would be in generic federal kit, with a campaign/veteran appearance. Tough and tumble, ready and willing to fight.

Interesting point, it seems the 7th and 65th NY State Militia did most of the fighting. Were both of these at Gettysburg? I read somewhere that the 65th were not in Federal service-

More here:

link

65th Regiment Infantry "1st United States Chasseurs"

Organized at Willett's Point, N.Y., and left State for Washington, D.C., August 27, 1861. Attached to Defenses of Washington to October, 1861. Graham's Brigade, Buell's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, to October, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps. Army of the Potomac, and Army of the Shenandoah, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until March, 1862. Reconnaissance to Lewinsville October 10-11, 1861. March to Prospect Hill, Va., March 10-15, 1862. Ordered to the Peninsula March 25. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Chickahominy River May 21-22. Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks June 31-July 1. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Malvern Hill July 1. Duty at Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to Alexandria August 16-September 1. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Duty in Maryland until October 20. Movement to Stafford Court House, Va., October 20-November 18, and to Belle Plains December 5. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth until April 27. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations about Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty at Brandy Station until January, 1864, and at Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, Ohio, until March. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. "Bloody Angle" May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 17-18. Siege of Petersburg June 17-July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens and the Northern defenses of Washington July 11-12. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 6-November 28. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until December. Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 9-12. Siege of Petersburg December 12, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Farmville and Burkesville until April 23. March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there until May 24. March to Richmond, Va., thence to Washington, D.C., May 24-June 3. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out July 17, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 112 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 88 Enlisted men by disease. Total 206.

Here's another good link to an image of the 65th's flank markers, as well as a description of their uniform when first enlisted. How long they maintained that uniform, I can't say, but after 2-year's service, they likely had a couple of new clothing issues. Depending upon where they drew from, they'd likely be given standard Federal issue clothing, unless they could wrangle new clothing through the state of New York, or pay for it out of their own pockets.

link

Follow the links at the bottom for images of their colours, and more data on the unit.

Respects,

Top quality information! Much appreciated!

Tim makes a good point – the troops from Gettysburg were tough as nails and in no mood to take any crap, so would be ready to put down rebellion with any and all necessary force – as noted, please keep us advised on this project!